Research indicates that young adults have an increasingly positive attitude toward mental health services, 65% of untreated young adults report low stigma and positive beliefs about the effectiveness of mental health services. If young adults have a positive outlook about the effectiveness of mental health services why are the rates of mental health in higher education increasing and why are students not getting mental health services they need?

Surveys conducted by Healthy Minds on general mental health among college students, revealed increases in anxiety, depression, eating disorders and suicidal behaviors over the past 5 years, with nearly a 50% increase in diagnosis of eating disorders on campus from 2013-2019, and a 50% increase in suicidal ideation over the past decade. Stigma about mental health services among adolescents and young adults are declining, however attitudes, beliefs, and access continue to present challenges to engage college students in mental health resources and services. The Healthy Minds 2021-2022 study revealed not having enough time and financial reasons as the top two barriers to students engaging in mental health services when needed.

Unaddressed mental health can impact college students in their current lives and future. Untreated and undiagnosed mental health challenges can affect human capital accumulation, or the knowledge, skills, and health people invest in throughout their lives. These factors can have lifelong consequences for employment, income, health, and other adult-life outcomes. About 66% of high school graduates attend college but fewer than 50% of these students complete graduation following college enrollment. People who experience chronic mental health will experience their first onset between the ages of 18-24, common ages of some college students, affirming mental health as an integral component in higher education.

In addition to students being impacted by increased stress levels due to pressures of academic success, there are increased rates of alcohol and drug consumption. Both alcohol and drug use can negatively impact wellbeing, mental health, and physical health. Students who are at an increased risk of chronic mental illness may experience additional challenges to academic success, lower GPA, human capital, and drop-rates when mental health is comorbid with alcohol or drug use. Alcohol and drugs are known methods of attempts to cope with underlying mental health conditions, stress from academic course load, self-esteem, low self-efficacy, and other social challenges that can accompany students in college. Alcohol and drug use on campus can also contribute to increased crime rates and assault, including sexual assault and rape. Students who experience sexual assault will experience an onset of additional mental health challenges which include depression, suicidal ideation, change in eating and sleeping habits, isolation, and withdrawal which can increase risk of higher rates of drop-out.

Reasons Mental Health Services on Campus are Important for All Departments

• Mental health is a predictor of academic success.
• Unaddressed mental health can impact student drop-out rates.
• Depression and anxiety are common among students in college and are associated with low GPA.
• Students with a mental health diagnosis and/or symptoms of depression are more likely to drop-out before degree completion.
• Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students.
• First onset of persistent and severe mental health conditions occurs around age 18-24.
• Mental health and not completing degree programs effects human capital accumulation.
• Early treatment and prevention have better outcomes for first onset episodes for students who experience mental health challenges.
• Institutions addressing mental health will lower drop-out rates, increase tuition revenues, and provide higher earning for students who obtain a degree, leading to better economic wellbeing for students.

Access and awareness to mental health services, resources, and education about signs and symptoms of mental health conditions are vital to the heartbeat of college campuses and vitality of the student body, staff, university, and society. Mental health services and resources on campus can provide a beginning blue print for providing students with awareness and resources about managing mental health throughout their lives. It reinforces the message that help is available and one can have quality of life while managing mental health conditions. If this is overlooked the short and long-term impact can be detrimental to students, the university, and society. A 1997 study outlined the impact of undiagnosed and untreated mental health disorders on the labor market, highlighting the ecological impact of untreated mental health conditions and drop-out rates among college students. There is a systemic cost and ecological complications for universities not providing adequate mental health care and resources for its students.

Steps Universities Can Take to Better Address Mental Health

• Increase awareness about mental health resources and signs/symptoms.
• Normalize and validate challenges experienced in college and the impact on mental health.
• Get an understanding of student, staff, and faculty attitudes about mental health at your university.
• Leaders can set the tone through proactive communication and storytelling.
• Invest in making programs and mental health resources accessible, affordable, and tailored to the unique needs of the student body at your institution.
• Provide screening tools to students and educate faculty and staff about the importance of informing students about screening aids and how to complete them.
• Integrate mental health and wellness into curriculum, throughout the university, and Learning Management Systems (LMS).

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